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Reviews For: IMD Meter by KK7UQ

Category: Specialized Amateur Communication Products

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Review Summary For : IMD Meter by KK7UQ
Reviews: 35MSRP: 155. USD
Description:
Stand alone IMD measuring device for PSK31 and PSK63 operation. The IMD Meter picks up the radiated signal from the antenna, amplifies it with a broad band AGC controlled RF amplifier, detects the transmitted wave form and analyzes it with a built in micro controller. Displays the transmitted IMD on a three digit LED display. Does not require any connection to the transmitter RF nor does it need a serial port on the computer. Covers QRP to QRO levels, 160m to 10m operation. IMD is detected and displayed in both idle mode and in typing operations. Audio alert when IMD goes above -20 dB. Design is built on a single 4 layer PCB. Packaged in plastic enclosure 4.2" x 2.75" x 1.6" deep. 4 Section telescoping antenna extends to 24".

eMail for info: imd-meter@verizon.net

Product is not in production
More Info: http://kj3n.ddns.net:8080/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00355
W2GW Rating: 2008-05-08
Super Product Time Owned: more than 12 months.
As An avid PSK31 fan, I can say this product does everything it is advertised to do. It removes all the guesswork out of setting up the proper audio levels from your soundcard in order to minimize IMD. I have copied many strong signals that were hard to decode because of high IMD.

I don't understand the previous review. If his beef is with the US post office, why pan a great product?
WG9U Rating: 2008-02-08
Super Design! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Frankly, I actually bought this as an after thought when I was talking to Glenn at US Interface. We were having a lengthy conversation/discussion about the attributes of the US Interface Navigator I had purchased several week before and I made a casual reference concerning the IMD Meter by KK7UQ, to the effect that I wish I had purchased one now. To shorten the story, there were some supplier issues that had cropped up with the enclosure,which Glenn informed me of, but I was still sitting on the fence, so being the extremely nice person he is, he held one for me until I could come to some decision. Well, his act of friendship indirectly pushed me into buying it. WOW, I'm so pleased that I did! I could go into a mind numbing list of statistics (being an engineer) and bore the daylights out of everyone, but it suffices to say that the IMD meter is everything it is touted to be, and more. While it is very simplistic from the standpoint of user interfacing and operation, the design is deceivingly sophisticated. This is one very useful meter if you are going to do serious PSK mode work. You will be very surprise how easy it is, with the assistance of the IMD Meter, to diagnose and clean up your PSK emissions. So, you think you have an accurate picture of what you're putting out... guess again! Try it, you'll like it... Tell Glennn at US Interface I sent you.
W9ATB Rating: 2007-07-17
Excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Can't add anything to previous posts. Does exactly what it is supposed to do and does it very well!!!!!
RHETTDUKE Rating: 2007-07-03
Just as Described !!!!!!!!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
IMD meter works EXACTLY as described....I got it in two days shipping time.I had been reading some of the numerous write ups online of how to tune up for acceptable IMD.They were all basically correct....but I feel much more comfortable now being able to quantify the settings.Being able to change various levels and see the difference is worth a lot.
The main thing I saw was just how a little ALC movement affected the IMD.I believe I am better qualified to tune up now even if I didnt have the KK7UQ meter...It's worth the money !!!!!!!!
N4LQ Rating: 2007-06-11
Technical support over the top. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It's simple, reliable and it works.
I ordered it on-line and received it 2 days later.
I had questions. Sent Email to KK7UQ. Got answers, more questions, more answers. The guy knows his PSK stuff.
The only thing I would like to see changed is less power consumption so batteries could be used. Probably requires LCD instead of LED display.
It's just one step from being portable.

The technical support and information received was worth the cost of the meter.
VE7AXU Rating: 2006-12-24
The most useful accessory in the shack Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This takes the mystery out of your signal quality - on air reports by other hams don't give enough consistent information. This has added much joy to my operating and I wouldn't be without it. Flawless operation - easy to understand and in use every time I'm on PSK. I highly recommend this device.
W3GWW Rating: 2006-06-22
Precise, Quick reaction and a Rig Saver for me. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
After debating whether or not I should purchase one I can tell you after the fact that this was the best purchase I ever made for an accessory. One evening during a PSK QSO I observed the IMD Meter fluctuate between -34dB and -10dB and I could not understand why. My digital SWR meter showed reasonable SWR so I went outside to take a look at my antenna. I found that we were having high winds and discovered that my R-8 vertical had an intermittent contact on the 20m band. Mind you, my digital SWR meter showed me nothing. To prove the point, I took the IMD Meter outside with a battery attached and put it in the field strength position with the antenna pushed in to find that my field strength would fluctuate from 15dB to 36dB during high winds. Oh yes, it functions the way it is supposed to and does much more!
N8INJ Rating: 2005-07-18
One of the nicest kits I've ever assembled Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I debated between the PSKmeter and the IMD meter and finally went with the IMD because I didn't want to deal with another I/O device strapped to my computer.

I ordered the meter with the basic enclosure but recieved an e-mail from Clint saying he would be upgrading me to the Engraved and letting me know it would be a day or two before he could ship my meter.

Even so it arrived sooner than I expected and upon first inspection I was VERY impressed. Then I noticed that I was missing the PCB! A quick e-mail to Clint and he assured me one was on it's way, true to his word it was sent out priority mail and arrived shortly.

The thought that went into this kit puts most mainstream kits I've experienced to shame, not that they were all to shaby in the first place! A good description of the circuit and theory behind it is included in the manual, the resistors and caps are already pre-sorted and taped out making finding them very simple, and the instructions were very clear and helpfull.

There were a few minor things I noticed:

1) The printing on the PCB and the picture of the PCB in the manual are both somewhat hard to read. With the size of components there's not much that could be done to remedy this though. Thankfully everything was numbered in order instead of by component type so the locations of parts was easy to figure out.

2) This is kind of a fallback of #1 above. The cards with the resistors and caps on them don't have the stuffing number on them. It forces you to double check the instructions I suppose which is good. But I found writing the stuffing numbers on the cards made assembly go much quicker.

3) The antenna. It would be nice to have a folding antenna, one that could collapse entirely into the box, or at least a removeable antenna to make this device easier to pack. I've considered brazing the mounting nut for the antenna to it's bracket so I could then unscrew the antenna...but a folding antenna would be much more elegent even if it increased the price of the kit.

I considered the 9-volt but the instructions say you don't get much use out of it, and my experience shows that opening and closing this style of case over and over isn't a great idea. I'm looking into a NiMh pack or Lithium Polymer pack that would have enough power output and decent charge density to make onboard battery power usefull.

Using it to tune up my station was MUCH easier than the what I've done in the past with finding someone local who can hear my signal and give me IMD readings while talked to them on VHF locally!

The designer of the kit goes out of his way to make this an enjoyable build and it's a very professional looking finished product. Tough to go wrong with it in my opinion.
AI4CQ Rating: 2005-06-13
Works Great,, A Fine Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered the deluxe kit with the engraved panel and the holes drilled in the box. Kit is as professional as they come. Worked first time. Handy to have around for adjustments. I added the battery connector for a 9 volt battery, the solder points are provided but not the connector. I used the formed plastic from the package for the battery as a insulator and spacer of cardboard to keep the battery in place in the case. I substituted a 8 section antenna from my junk box, Mouser #43AR103, in place of the 4 section antenna supplied. This pushes down to 3 inches instead of 6 inches and makes it nicer to pack, in my opinion. A fine product.
N0AN Rating: 2005-06-11
Superb! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had considered the computer assisted automatically adjusting variety, saw the ad in QST this month for this little jewel. It was hard to believe how well it might work for the reasonable price. I came to eham to find out what the users thought of it, and reviews were quite positive.

Well...add me to the list of VERY satisfied owners. It is solidly constructed (I have already dropped it on the cement floor of my basement with no damage), super easy to use and produced exactly the results I had been looking for. (Fully assembled unit, deluxe enclosure, wall wart power supply)

Service was excellent. I sent an email and a personal money order. The email was acknowledged the next day, and two days later the unit was shipped (to Iowa). I received it on Saturday via priority mail. I had expected a wait of at least two weeks...not so. This is really good service.

I couldn't be happier! BTW my TS-2000 consistently shows > -30 dB of IMD, even with the RF power cranked up to 90w out. (I don't run it like that...usually 35w out)

I have no reservations about the price/performance ans service for this product.